Working together: neighbourhood watch, reassurance policing and the potential of partnerships

Fleming, Jenny (2005) Working together: neighbourhood watch, reassurance policing and the potential of partnerships ,
Canberra, AU, Australian Institute of Criminology
(Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice303).

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Description/Abstract

Neighborhood watch (NW) began as a response to shifting attitudes about the role of police in the community, and as a movement to have more community involvement in crime prevention. These schemes are an attempt by the police and community to reduce crime, and through them police have encouraged communities to take responsibility for crime prevention and controlling social or physical disorder in their neighborhoods. However, with all the widespread enthusiasm and support for NW in Australia, there is research evidence to suggest that NW is ineffective in preventing crime. This paper suggests that a better way to assess the effectiveness of NW is to view it as a vehicle to enhance partnerships between police, other agencies, and the community which, in turn can effectively improve police/community relations, improve perceptions of safety and security, and enhance community involvement. This requires a change in focus in viewing NW. The paper suggests that NW schemes should be assessed on the capacity to enhance the relationship between police and community, the ability to improve feelings of safety and security, and the ability to expand community involvement in initiatives of safety and prevention. This venture is a move away from traditional NW imperatives but research suggests that significant progress can be made in reducing crime while reassuring the public, building community capacity, improving the quantity and quality of police citizen contact, and enhancing police legitimacy.